Promoting excellence in design and craftsmanship, stimulating interest and appreciation for fine craft.
Northwest Designer Craftartists (NWDC) was founded in 1954 to promote excellence of design and craftsmanship and to stimulate public appreciation and interest in fine craft. Artists in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska, who work professionally in clay, wood, glass, metal, fiber, and/or mixed media, are members. Other members support the crafts in the Pacific Northwest as educators, managers of non-profit arts organizations, or buyers of art for public or private collections. Northwest Designer Craftartists is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Images from works by Brian O’Neill, Elin Noble, Nanz Aalund, Marcia Selsor and Crista Van Slyck Matteson.
NWDC Member Artist Talk: Seth Rolland
Presented on Zoom
Sunday, February 15, 2025
3:00 PM – 4:15 PM
Since 1990 Seth Rolland has been designing and building custom furniture. Thanks to his architect mother and landscape architect father, he was given tools and materials at a young age, and had many discussions about design. His path to woodworking may have begun at age six, when he built a raft, or later, while working on trail crews or during a boat-building class with 83-year-old master John Gardner. But an apprenticeship with custom furniture maker and sculptor Janis Colella taught Seth that furniture offered a wonderful freedom of expression.
“Furniture is interactive and we develop a bond as we eat, sit, play, sleep, work and live with it. When a table, chair, bed or desk leaves my workshop, I hope it becomes part of your life and history through generations of use.”
– Seth Rolland
Image: Seth Rolland, Thuja Spiralis, Salvaged cedar, 30" x 3" x 37", 2024
Shunpike Storefronts & Artist Residencies
906 Alaskan Way, Seattle WA
On Madison between Alaskan Way and Western Ave.
NWDC is excited to present three exhibitions with SHUNPIKE. The Storefronts & Artist Residencies program transforms empty commercial spaces into vibrant hubs for creativity and community engagement. Launched in response to the 2008 economic downturn and expanded as part of Seattle Restored (2021-2025), the program has a 15-year track record of revitalizing urban neighborhoods by turning vacant storefronts into public art exhibitions and artist residencies.
Meet our members and find an artist.
Detail from “Nameless” by Claire B. Jones
"Few places in this country can boast such a vibrant craft community... a reminder of the very special character of this region, and the dedication and talent of its makers."
— Nora Atkinson, Fleur and Charles Bresler, Curator-in-Charge for the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Join The NWDC Fundraising Campaign
$50,000 Annually
Achieving a 5-Year Vision
We need your support achieve this vision.
All contributions are appreciated.
Vision
+ Advance fine craft art appreciation and interest across NWDC's whole five-state region.
+ Create exciting opportunities for NWDC members to advance their art presence, build their resumes, businesses, and entrepreneurship.
+ Support NWDC members with opportunities to market and sell their artwork both digitally and in each member state.
+ Continue producing Living Treasures documentaries, member artist talks and Business of Art videos.
+ Grow a diverse and inclusive NWDC juried membership, connecting with fine craft artists across the Pacific Northwest.
+ Facilitate member education, social networking, mentoring programs; and invited lectures teaming with art museums, galleries and arts institutions.
+ Create opportunities for members to teach their unique techniques, build income, and present their practice to a wider audience.
+ Develop strong financial means for NWDC to achieve its vision.
Upcoming events.
Stay connected with NWDC to see updates about member exhbitions, artist talks, workshops and other events focused on promoting fine craft.
The Living Treasures Project
As the pioneers of the contemporary craft movement reach an advanced age, it has become an urgent task to make a record of their lives, their work and their achievements. The Living Treasures Project is an ongoing series of video profiles made by NWDC in cooperation with Fidget Films, documenting the Northwest's most important and influential elder craft professionals. These are individuals with lifelong involvement in the arts and a history of personal generosity and outstanding leadership. They built institutions, taught fellow artists, and created important works that affected the direction of their fields. They are an inspiration to us all.
Images: “Bear’s Reliquary” by Ron Ho, background from a piece by NWDC Founder Robert Sperry
Follow NWDC on Social Media
View NWDC Artists Talks, Exhibitions, and more on our YouTube Channel and stay connected with our members on Instagram and Facebook.
